No agreement on Highland Avenue

Thursday

Oct 21, 2010 at 12:01 AMOct 21, 2010 at 9:16 PM

Resuming a discussion from the Village of Dansville’s September meeting, trustees failed last week to agree on a resolution that would satisfy the village’s security concerns at its water treatment plant while providing access to an adjoining property owner.

Last month’s decision was to create a dedicated, paved road through the village’s water treatment plant to connect the existing Highland Avenue with property owned by David and Maura Shera.

Les Bowen

Resuming a discussion from the Village of Dansville’s September meeting, trustees failed last week to agree on a resolution that would satisfy the village’s security concerns at its water treatment plant while providing access to an adjoining property owner.

Last month’s decision was to create a dedicated, paved road through the village’s water treatment plant to connect the existing Highland Avenue with property owned by David and Maura Shera.

Trustee Don Sylor suggested the village rescind the right-of-way and, following the terms of a 1995 agreement, install a gravel and dirt road to provide access to the Shera’s property using another route.

“I think this needs to be given more thought,” Mayor Bill Dixon said. He said the village should have pursued an Article 78 appeal through the courts instead of negotiating.

In an unrelated matter, the board addressed an unresolved issue relating to compensation for the police chief. Trustee Andy Kershner made a motion to retroactively bar Chief Charles Perkins from collecting additional pay for unused time off. Though Trustee Kirk Walker gave a second, the motion died in a 2-3 split, with the only aye votes from Kershner and Dixon.

Kershner read from a prepared statement, raising concerns about Perkins’ integrity and honesty.

“There can be no room for questions of veracity of information received from any of the village’s department heads,” Kershner said, before asking for the chief’s resignation.

Sylor said Perkins was a man he respected and hoped the chief would reject Kershner’s request.

Other trustees suggested a closer review of the matter.

“I haven’t seen a written explanation of [the attorney’s] findings,” Said Trustee Richard Whitenack.

The board ultimately agreed to review the matter at a future meeting with both legal counsel and the chief present.